Grace Marie Vandagriff

Grace Marie Myers Vandagriff was born on December 9, 1924, in Oklahoma City, OK, to Harvey and Esther Myers, and passed away October 17, 2021, after battling dementia for several years.Grace grew up in southwest Oklahoma City during the depression. She was the third and last child in the family, living in a happy household with older siblings Jack and Florene. After graduating from Central High School in 1943, Grace worked as a secretary at Douglas Aircraft on Tinker Airfield and then attended the University of Oklahoma for two years. While at OU, she joined Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a women's academic sorority, where she made many lifelong friends. She met the love of her life, Clifford Vandagriff, at a house party in 1950. During their whirlwind courtship, the Korean Conflict escalated, and the Air Force recalled 1st Lt. Vandagriff to active duty, relocating him to Shepherd Air Force Base in Roswell, NM. Cliff made all the arrangements, and they were married at the Shepherd Air Force Base Chapel, on May 5, 1951. In July, they were transferred to Montgomery, AL, and eventually to Rapid City, SD, where son Mark was born.After leaving the Air Force in 1953, Cliff and Grace returned to Oklahoma City, where Grace continued her role as wife, mother, and housewife. Daughter Carol was born in 1955. Grace was always involved in our school activities. She was a Homeroom Mother, Cub Scout Den Mother, Camp Fire Girls Leader, and very active in the Andrew Johnson Elementary PTA.Grace and Cliff loved to travel and planned family vacations every summer. After the kids were grown, they continued to travel, touring Europe three times. They loved visiting other countries but were always so glad to be back home in the United States again. Grace had an exceptional talent for being creative, enabling her to do extremely well at so much in life. She was a good artist, played the piano well and was an exceptional seamstress. She loved all animals, and never met a cat she didn't like. Grace was an amazing grandmother. She also had a talent for solving puzzles and spent many hours working jigsaw puzzles with granddaughter Kristi. Grace became a devout Christian at an early age and read her Bible every day. She was extremely curious and took courses in religion, Ancient Greek, and Ancient Hebrew as an adult. She continued to study religion extensively and was very knowledgeable about different faiths. In the early 1980's, Grace and Cliff joined Belle Isle Community Church, now known as Crossings Community Church where they were very active members. Cliff passed away in February 2012, and Grace eventually moved to Quail Creek Assisted Living in July of 2014. She was always positive and pleasant, even when the dementia became more apparent. She enjoyed participating in all the center's events and was active right up to the end. She loved the staff and other residents and considered them her family.Grace is survived by son Mark Vandagriff, Oklahoma City, daughter Carol and son-in-law Paul Elkouri, Edmond, granddaughter Kristi Copeland, Oklahoma City, former step-grandson Derek Copeland, Oklahoma City, brother and sister-in-law Phil and Anne Vandagriff, Houston, TX, several much-loved nieces and nephews, and many amazing, wonderful friends. Services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, October 25, at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home, 14524 N. May Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK, 73134. The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to the Alzheimer's Association or your charity of choice.